Entries in Panigale V4
(1)

Ducati has brought its V4 Desmosedici Moto GP engine to the street. The 90˚ V4 will be the first four-cylinder ever offered on a production Ducati street bike when it debuts this November on the new Panigale V4.

That bike will be powered by an 1103 cc version producing 210 hp @ 13,000 rpm, and 88.5 lb.-ft. of torque from 8,750-12,250 rpm while meeting Euro 4 emission standards. The greater displacement increases mid-range torque, though an R version of the engine will be available in 1,000 cc form, and with a higher redline. This version will be used to homologate the engine for the 2019 Superbike championship series.

Like the race version the street Desmosedici features a counter-rotating crankshaft to reduce the gyroscopic effect and improve agility. The crank pins are offset at 70˚, as on the race motor, in order to generate a more controllable power delivery, and to optimize traction while accelerating out of a corner. A 90˚ bank angle was chosen to centralize mass, keep the engine compact, and optimize weight distribution. As on the race engine, the front cylinders are set at 42˚ from horizontal, which brings the swingarm pivot forward and also allows fitment of larger radiators.

The new motor has an 81 mm bore, the same as the race engine and the maximum allowed in Moto GP. Stroke is just 53.5 mm, making the Desmosedici an high-revving “oversquare” design. It also features variable-height intake trumpets, a first on a Ducati street bike, and oval throttle bodies, each with an injector above and one below the butterfly. The compression ratio is 14:1, and the engine is a semi-dry sump design with four oil pumps (one delivery and three return). — CAS